Two nuclear genes yield concordant relationships within Attacini (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).
To extend initial characterizations of their phylogenetic utility, sequences from the nuclear genes for elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1 alpha) and dopa decarboxylase (DDC) are tested for phylogenetic concordance with each other and with previous morphological evidence within the giant silk moth tribe Attacini (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). The sampling of DDC is expanded from the 690 basepairs of previous studies to 1051 basepairs in the current study. All nine attacine genera are sampled. EF-1 alpha and DDC agree in the placement of seven of nine genera, with placement of the other two not in strong conflict. Combination of the gene sequences results in a nearly fully resolved tree that is consistent with EF-1 alpha alone and agrees with morphology in five of eight groups. Conflict between molecules and morphology is confined to deeper-level relationships within Attacini, where node support for the molecular hypotheses, but not the morphological hypotheses, is generally very strong. A strong signal is contributed by synonymous substitutions in both genes, and by nonsynonymous change particularly in DDC. The molecular phylogeny supports a revision of attacine biogeography in that neither East Asian nor New World genera form monophyletic groups.
Friedlander
T P
TP
Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20742, USA.
Horst
K R
KR
Regier
J C
JC
Mitter
C
C
Peigler
R S
RS
Fang
Q Q
QQ
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics*; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny
D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D004247:DNA; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase